1 Chronicles 7 10

1 Chronicles 7:10 kjv

The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.

1 Chronicles 7:10 nkjv

The son of Jediael was Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish, and Ahishahar.

1 Chronicles 7:10 niv

The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar.

1 Chronicles 7:10 esv

The son of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.

1 Chronicles 7:10 nlt

The son of Jediael was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 10 Meaning

First Chronicles 7:10 presents a list of names, stating that "the son of Bilhan was Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar." This verse serves as a genealogical entry, meticulously detailing the descendants of Bilhan, who himself was a son of Jediael, a descendant of Benjamin. Its primary purpose is to trace the lineage and identify the family branches within the tribe of Benjamin, affirming their heritage and continuity within the covenant community of Israel.

1 Chronicles 7 10 Context

This verse is found within 1 Chronicles Chapter 7, which primarily records the genealogies of various tribes, specifically Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. It's part of a longer section (verses 6-12) dedicated to the lineage of Benjamin, a critical tribe with a unique history (e.g., origin, the judge Ehud, King Saul, fierce battles). Verse 10 traces the descendants of Bilhan, who is identified earlier as a son of Jediael (1 Chr 7:6), who was one of Benjamin's sons. The detailed listing of names in genealogies like this was immensely important for the post-exilic audience to whom the Chronicler wrote. These lists helped to establish and verify tribal identities, legitimate claims to ancestral land, and the qualifications for specific religious duties in the re-established community after the Babylonian exile. It underscored the continuity of God's covenant with His people despite the exile.

1 Chronicles 7 10 Word analysis

• The son of: (Hebrew: וּבֶן֙ - u-ven, meaning "and son of"). This phrase establishes a direct paternal lineage, showing the hierarchical descent and continuation of a family line. In ancient Near Eastern societies, such clear markers of ancestry were foundational for identity, legal claims, and social standing.
• Bilhan: (Hebrew: בִּלְהָ֑ן - Bilhan). A proper noun, functioning as the father whose sons are being listed. The name is found elsewhere (Gen 36:27 for an Edomite leader), but here it denotes a distinct individual within the Benjaminite tribe, highlighting specific branches of the family tree that the Chronicler deemed significant to preserve.
• was: (Hebrew: often implied or signified by the juxtaposed nouns, no direct verb "was" always). In this genealogical context, it implies a direct father-son relationship, making the listed names direct offspring of Bilhan. It serves to identify the individual descendants and thus, the continued generations of Benjamin.
• Jeush: (Hebrew: יְע֛וּשׁ - Ye'ush). A proper noun, one of Bilhan's sons. The name potentially means "he will come to help" or "gathered." Its inclusion shows another specific branch of the family. This name appears elsewhere (Gen 36:5 as a son of Esau; 1 Chr 8:39 as a Benjaminite; 1 Chr 23:10 as a Levite), indicating it was a somewhat common name, each instance referring to a different person.
• Benjamin: (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִ֖ין - Binyamin). This is a proper noun, appearing here as another son of Bilhan. It's crucial to distinguish this Benjamin, the son of Bilhan, from Benjamin the tribal patriarch. It was common for names to be repeated across generations or branches of a family. This emphasizes the continuing presence of the name within the tribe.
• Ehud: (Hebrew: אֵהוּד֙ - Ehud). A proper noun, another son of Bilhan. The name means "united." This individual is distinct from the famous Judge Ehud (Judg 3), although both belong to the tribe of Benjamin. This recurrence of names reinforces the distinct individuals and lineages within the Benjaminite tribe, as recorded by the Chronicler.
• Chenaanah: (Hebrew: כְּנַעֲנָה֙ - Kena'anah). A proper noun, another son of Bilhan. The name might relate to "Canaan," which is somewhat unusual for an Israelite descendant. Its inclusion, alongside others, completes the specific set of sons attributed to Bilhan.
• Zethan: (Hebrew: זֵיתָן֙ - Zeitan). A proper noun, another son of Bilhan. The name likely means "olive." Its recording signifies a specific family line preserved.
• Tarshish: (Hebrew: תַּרְשִׁ֖ישׁ - Tarshish). A proper noun, another son of Bilhan. While commonly known as a place name (a port city), here it functions as a personal name. This indicates the diversity in naming conventions and suggests that family names could sometimes reflect distant places or other unique connections, though its specific significance for this family is unknown.
• and Ahishahar: (Hebrew: וַאֲחִישַֽׁחַר׃ - wa'Ahishahar, "and brother of the dawn"). A proper noun, the last son listed from Bilhan. The name "Ahishahar" is poetic, meaning "my brother is dawn" or "brother of the morning," perhaps alluding to beauty, swiftness, or the dawning of an era for this lineage. The use of "and" at the beginning of this last name visually marks the end of the list.

• "The son of Bilhan was Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar": This entire phrase functions as a statement of lineal descent, outlining one specific family unit within the larger Benjaminite tribal structure. It is not just a collection of names but a declaration of continuity and the establishment of specific family lines important to the post-exilic community. The explicit listing of each son's name serves to validate and remember individual contributions to the ongoing narrative of the tribe of Benjamin, affirming their presence and heritage within the broader Israelite identity.

1 Chronicles 7 10 Bonus section

Scholars view the genealogies in Chronicles, including this verse, not as mere factual lists but as highly theological documents. The Chronicler carefully selected and arranged these names, often drawing from older sources but editing them to fit a specific purpose: to inspire hope and reinforce identity among the returned exiles. The very act of naming each individual within a continuous line conveyed a powerful message: God had preserved His people through severe trials. While there can be discrepancies between various biblical genealogies (e.g., in other books or even within Chronicles), these are often understood by scholars as reflective of different periods of compilation, scribal intent, or focusing on distinct aspects of family branches (e.g., prominent lines, heads of houses, or varying inclusiveness based on the compiler's objective). For the Benjaminite lines, their detailed inclusion underscores their importance, particularly their unique place historically (producing the first king, Saul) and their close association with Judah. These names are not merely entries in an ancient phonebook but are witnesses to God's steadfastness through the generations.

1 Chronicles 7 10 Commentary

First Chronicles 7:10 is a brief yet foundational genealogical statement. In an era where identity, land ownership, and priestly rights were tied to verified lineage, this verse serves as a critical link in the extensive family trees provided by the Chronicler. It explicitly details a segment of the tribe of Benjamin's descendants, tracing the "sons" of Bilhan. The significance is not in any particular historical deed of these specific individuals—as none are recounted here—but rather in their very existence and meticulous documentation. The Chronicler, writing for a community returning from exile, understood that God's faithfulness to His covenant people was manifested through the preservation of their tribal structure and familial lines. These detailed genealogies like 1 Chr 7:10 provided assurance of unbroken heritage and legitimate claims for a scattered people, underscoring that God had indeed remembered His covenant and kept His promises by sustaining Israel through generations. It grounds the abstract promises of God in concrete historical succession, reminding the reader of God's active involvement in human history.